Numerous studies have established the toxic consequences of smoking on your general health. Smoking is the chief cause of lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking will cause nearly 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, and tobacco use accounts for almost one in three cancer deaths. Cigarette smoking raises your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Smoking while pregnant also ties to an increased risk of early delivery, birth defects and infant death. Still, these associations probably are not news to you.

However, did you know that smoking and other tobacco use also have a vastly negative effect on your oral health? Smoking has a distinctively harmful impact on oral health, from superficial issues to disturbingly deep-rooted dental problems.

Bad Breath, Dry Mouth and Tooth Discoloration

Cigarette smoking causes nicotine-stained or yellow teeth, dry mouth and foul breath. Apart from sullying your teeth and drying out your mouth, nicotine and tar rest in your oral cavity to cause the condition known as “smoker’s breath.” These issues facilitate a host of secondary dental issues. Although regular use of oral care probiotic products, teeth whitening and breath mints can lessen these undesirable effects, eliminating smoking altogether can save you money on dental maintenance and improve your outward appearance.

Dental Decay and Tooth Loss

Smoking and other tobacco use aggravate your gum tissue, causing it to pull away or recede from your teeth. Then, your teeth becomes exposed, creating a higher risk of tooth infection and decay. Smoking can leave teeth coated with a thick layer of tartar, and thick dental plaque may be difficult to remove. These vulnerabilities can lead to tooth loss. Notably, the sugars often added to enhance the flavor of chewing (smokeless) tobacco also increase your risk for tooth deterioration. Similarly, smokeless tobacco often contains grit and sand, which can erode your teeth.

Gum Disease

In a healthy mouth, the gums stay tight around the base of the teeth, shielding the roots. In contrast, smoking and tobacco use can damage the gum considerably by separating from the bone. This leads to the formation of pockets below and between the teeth that trap food scraps. Bacteria inside the mouth settle into the pockets to feed on decaying food. This phenomenon leaves your teeth open to disease-causing bacteria that can lead to gum disease or advanced periodontal disease. In fact, tobacco users are at a sharply greater risk for periodontal disease than non-smokers. Compared to former smokers and non-smokers, smokers tend not to heal as well after periodontal treatment.

Oral Cancer

The risk of mouth or oral cancer increases significantly in people who use any form of tobacco. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco all have the same deleterious effects on your oral health. Research indicates nearly 90 percent of oral cancer patients are smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers are also more likely to die from oral cancer.

Clearly, smoking is antithetical to good oral care. Your quest for a nice, healthy smile are more feasible when you do not smoke. Even second-hand smoke exposure can put you at risk for smoke-related dental problems. To achieve good oral health and minimize dental emergencies, visit your dentist regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle.